The construction of the ship

Galleon ships are widely known to have ruled the seas with its mighty firepower as well as ship design that allowed it to maneuver quickly than other boats. This made them the best choice during war time and later on evolved to take on dual roles. As they were less expensive to produce, they also doubled as cargo ships bringing goods from one end of the globe to the other.

Defining characteristics

The Galleon was a product of combining the best of its predecessors all while arming it to the teeth. It had high fore (front section) and aft (back section) castles as well as imposing firepower on its sides. The guns would usually be in multiple tiers on either side of the boat which made the Galleons an imposing force out in the sea.

Constructing the Galleon

The Galleon bested its predecessor, the Carrack in terms of cost. The same amount of resources used to build three Carracks would yield about five Galleons. This meant the ship would be built faster and a lot cheaper but stronger than past makes. This was one of the reasons that made the Galleon a commanding sight during the 15th to 16th Century.

Using wood for the ship

The hulls of the ship were built by fastening one edge to the other. This helped create a smoother surface though the support mostly came from the frame. This made the Galleons lighter compared to other ships. The ship is usually made using oak tree which is one of the strongest trees ever. This why there is a saying “strong as an Oak tree!”

The wood was used for different parts of the Galleon.For one, the oak tree is used for the keel – this is the part of the ship that resembled a fin that protruded below the boat along the center of the ship. Apart from being a part of the overall frame of the ship, the keel also provides stability while out in the water. Pine trees were then used to form the masts of the ship. This was important as the Galleon relied on the mast to propel them through the water. The hull and decking of the ship used various types of wood.

Galleon Crew

Construction of the Galleon also meant having to put together skilled groups of people such as blacksmiths and carpenters to put the ship together. Construction entailed costs so groups of wealthy businessmen pooled in. This meant that some Galleons were mainly used for trading which allowed the businessmen to recoup their expenses. Those that were captured by rivals out in sea were later transformed into warships.

The crew on the ship also spent quite a long time during expeditions and voyages. This means that a lot of them would perish during the trip. This prompted ship designers to put in a more advanced rigging system. This would allow a small crew to sail the ship back home in the event that a good part of the crew would perish during the voyage.